Chandigarh: The campaign launched by the state government against the black drug trade in Punjab has now taken the form of a mass movement. Under the 'War on Drugs' campaign of the Bhagwant Mann government, the promptness of the police and administration as well as the active participation of common citizens is proving to be the biggest weapon in this fight. On the basis of thousands of secret information received on the Safe Punjab helpline, the police machinery has achieved great success in dismantling the network of drug smugglers. According to the data received till September 3, 2026 under this special campaign which started from March 1, 2025, thousands of arrests have been made on the basis of accurate information received from the public, which is breaking the back of the drug supply chain.
More than 25 thousand arrests
During this campaign, the police received 51,979 tip-offs from the general public through the Safe Punjab Helpline (97791-00200). Using this information, enforcement agencies took immediate action on suspicious activities. According to the data, out of the total 59,293 FIRs registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the state, 25,339 arrests were possible only on the basis of tip-offs given by citizens. This is proof that the common citizen of Punjab is now standing shoulder to shoulder with the government to make their state drug free.
Huge quantity of drugs seized
This action was not limited only to small drug sellers, but a strong attack has also been made on the big smugglers running the illegal business. Police have arrested 696 big smugglers for possessing more than two kilograms of heroin. The recovery figures also show the scope of the operation. During this period, 3,757 kg heroin, 964 kg opium, 45 tonnes of poppy husk, 1,288 kg ganja, 71 kg methamphetamine (ice) and 62 lakh intoxicating pills and capsules were seized. Besides this, cash worth around Rs 22 crore earned from illicit trade has also been seized and 2,675 cases related to the commercial quantity have been registered.
Emphasis is also being given on treatment and rehabilitation
The state government is not limited to just legal action but is also adopting a humanitarian approach to rehabilitate people suffering from drug addiction. Due to police intervention, 42,498 people were admitted to de-addiction centres, while 1,55,970 people were transported to Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics. Along with this, legal protection has also been provided to 11,239 persons who voluntarily underwent treatment under Section 64A of the NDPS Act.